E85??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,823
Likes: 484
From: El Dorado Hills CA
E85??
I just went into my local auto store to buy octane boost for my 67 with 11:1 compression. The guy told me to use E85 fuel as it's sold down the street. Anyone doing this? Does it help? Does it hurt?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,107
Likes: 9,424
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
I would not even think about runing that in my old car. Does more harm then good on your carb and rubber gas lines
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,462
Likes: 8,935
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Remind me to not fill up down there the next time I come down out of the Sierra.OK, more seriously, I wouldn't put E85 in any of my cars, particularly not the older ones. The fuel systems have to be specifically engineered to withstand the effects of ethanol at that concentration .... and they haven't been.
E85.... bad idea.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Many people confuse E10 gas with E85. The former is 10% ethanol and the latter is 85% ethanol, not 85% gas.
Not many cars other than branded 'flex fuels' vehicles will even run on E85. Best go back to the car parts store and give the kid behind the counter some education, or punch in the head, whichever gets his attention.
Why do you need octane boost for your car? What happens when you run it on straight pump gas?
Not many cars other than branded 'flex fuels' vehicles will even run on E85. Best go back to the car parts store and give the kid behind the counter some education, or punch in the head, whichever gets his attention.
Why do you need octane boost for your car? What happens when you run it on straight pump gas?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,823
Likes: 484
From: El Dorado Hills CA
Many people confuse E10 gas with E85. The former is 10% ethanol and the latter is 85% ethanol, not 85% gas.
Not many cars other than branded 'flex fuels' vehicles will even run on E85. Best go back to the car parts store and give the kid behind the counter some education, or punch in the head, whichever gets his attention.
Why do you need octane boost for your car? What happens when you run it on straight pump gas?
Not many cars other than branded 'flex fuels' vehicles will even run on E85. Best go back to the car parts store and give the kid behind the counter some education, or punch in the head, whichever gets his attention.
Why do you need octane boost for your car? What happens when you run it on straight pump gas?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,462
Likes: 8,935
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Nope, that's an 'old wives tale' or better yet 'young kid behind the counter at the car parts' myth. If it doesn't ping on pump gas, there's nothing to be gained by using an octane booster or race gas.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,662
Likes: 2,344
From: Lake Minnetonka, Mn
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
You need stainless steel for everything in the fuel delivery system. Ethanol is highly corrosive to metal, plastic and rubber parts. A lot of modern hi-po cars use it. I have a friend who has a EVO Turbo (500+ hp) at the rear wheels who has converted to it. Its ctane rating is around 105, it burns cooler which means you can boost compression.
The injectors have to be tweaked to change their pulse width (otherwise the engine will run too lean) and there are programs like FlexTek that will allow you to run 10 to 30 percent more fuel through your injectors to accomplish this. This is certainly a lot cheaper than the alternative which is expensive race fuel at $10 p/gallon.
The injectors have to be tweaked to change their pulse width (otherwise the engine will run too lean) and there are programs like FlexTek that will allow you to run 10 to 30 percent more fuel through your injectors to accomplish this. This is certainly a lot cheaper than the alternative which is expensive race fuel at $10 p/gallon.
Last edited by Dan Hampton; Jul 10, 2011 at 09:40 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
You'll be lucky to get off the lot.
If your car won't run right on pump premium, fix your engine. There's something wrong with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 72
From: Reno Nv
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 51
From: Lexington Park Maryland
Specs on my motor when we rebuilt it (1990) was 11.2:1 copmpression (TRW forged pistons)..... w/stock L79 cam (Crane blueprint), double hump iron heads (2.02 and 1.65) with stock ram horn exhaust. I've never used anything other than premium pump gas (91-93 octane range) and have never had a problem. Octane boost is a waste of money IMHO. Mike M is right when he says:
"If your car won't run right on pump premium, fix your engine. There's something wrong with it".
Good Luck....
"If your car won't run right on pump premium, fix your engine. There's something wrong with it".
Good Luck....
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
I pulled a holley last night due to a bad float bowl and the gaskets were goo already. They are only 8 months old on this particular carburetor. I was really surprised.
Has anybody used the Ethanol neutralizer, or whatever it is called, that the autoparts stores sell? I just noticed the product the other day at Advance auto parts.
Has anybody used the Ethanol neutralizer, or whatever it is called, that the autoparts stores sell? I just noticed the product the other day at Advance auto parts.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,462
Likes: 8,935
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
Got me, that's just what i saw at advance auto parts. It's supposed to be some sort of treatment for gas with ethanol that is to be used in older cars with carburetors. I am sure it is just a well devised marketing ploy.